Dailyfinance Wire

I'm no Apple hater, but I don't see the appeal of its expensive new iPad. Clearly, I'm in the minority here -- Apple sold 3 million of them in a single weekend -- but allow me to explain.

If you haven't started playing mobile gaming app Draw Something yet, you've probably seen it. The Pictionary clone has gone massively viral worldwide, which made its owner, OMGPOP, a minor thorn in the side of social gaming leader Zynga.

You may see your tax refund check as a choice between a crazy splurge and responsible saving. But you could also put that money to work for you less conventionally. Here are five good ways to spend $1,000 of your April windfall that you might not have considered.

Since the credit crisis of 2008, everyone has been waiting for the banks to start lending money again. It's finally happening, but there's a catch: Businesses are afraid to spend it.

Hiring a lawyer may cost a bundle, but at least it's free to check out the legal code and determine exactly what the law is. Except when it's not: Welcome to the odd and expensive legal realm of codes and standards.

Still banking at one of the "too big to fail" institutions? According to Bank Deals blog and DepositAccounts.com, for the best yields on checking, savings and CDs, you'd do better looking locally. For example, consider these three deals available right now.

Sales of U.S. new homes fell in February for the second straight month, a reminder that the depressed housing market remains weak despite some improvement. But the Commerce Department also reported some positive signs.

Folks aren't buying video games the way they used to -- and that's a problem for the industry. But if the big players are willing to consider some outrageous strategies, they can buy themselves some bonus lives.

Experts discuss when you should choose organic fruits and vegetables over conventional varieties.

Ahead of AARP's planned "secret" salon on the future of Social Security, we offer two retirement experts' dramatically different proposals for solving the crisis. Chuck Saletta's view: You can't fix the program with tweaks and small changes.

Everyone's predicting the worst for Social Security. But should the chance of cuts in a quarter-century really have us in a panic today? Retirement expert Dan Caplinger explains why there's really no need for major changes.

Don Thompson, a champion of McDonald's expanded menu offerings and spruced-up restaurants will soon take the top spot at the world's biggest burger chain.

Whether or not you think the billions invested in saving the financial industry was worth the cost, the banks were saved. And at least one of those bailouts actually turned a big profit.

With The Hunger Games opening this weekend, investors can stack the odds in their favor by considering the companies that stand to benefit from the film's likely success.

Penny auction site YouNeverLose.com takes the risk out of paying to bid: Crazy as it sounds, you "gamble" without the possibility of losing your money.

Like most investing, you're not protected from market meltdown, and there's always the risk of missing out on a star.

There are plenty of Peyton Manning stocks -- mature companies that investors avoid -- even though they're still strong.

America is $15.5 trillion dollars in the red. So why is the Pentagon buying military hardware that no one wants or needs?

United Online's NetZero business is making headlines this week with a free 4G connectivity deal that isn't as free as it looks.

The OSU athletic department's bet on the deaths of 27 aging boosters with big life insurance policies backfired when not one died.

The get tackled, fouled, body-checked and more to make their money. And then, pro athletes get beat up again by the tax men.

It'll be a good Easter for sellers of brightly colored outfits and chocolate bunnies: Americans are expected to shell out 11% more for the holiday this year.

John Carter is just the latest disappointment: Is Disney snuffing the creativity out of its Pixar and Marvel purchases?

If tax rates rise -- and experts say they will -- a way to grow your money tax-free starts looking mighty good. Meet the Roth IRA.

Want beautiful, artistic nails at a fraction of the salon price? Based on its commercials, Salon Express -- an "as seen on TV" product -- seems promising. But can a $10 mail order kit really replace a professional nail artist armed with years of experience?